Each year, Traditional Arts Indiana honors a long-time state fair participant with the Indiana State Fair Master Award. These men and women give generously of themselves by exhibiting, demonstrating, or performing, at both county and state fairs. They are well-known by neighbors and friends in home communities for a particular skill and for their commitment to passing their excellence on to others. This year, we are honored to name Mary Alice Collins of Markleville, a master baker, as the award’s recipient.

Mary Alice Collins, a more than 50-year participant at the Indiana State Fair, has earned thousands of ribbons for her baked goods.

Mary Alice grew up in the kitchen. Learning how to cook and bake was just part of living on her family’s Hancock County farm. After finishing 10 years of 4-H and starting a career

Mary Alice, left, and her mother, Helen Rushton, have appeared in a number of publications for their achievements at the fair. Mary Alice credits her mother for much of her talent and success.

as a home economics teacher, she began participating at the Indiana State Fair in 1955.

Since then, she has won thousands of ribbons for her pies, cakes, breads and cookies, and has been featured on The View and in a cookbook published by Midwest Living. Now retired, she spends her time passing on winning tips and tricks to family and community members hoping to follow in her footsteps.

Mary Alice received the award Thursday, August 14, during a ceremony at the Indiana State Fair Home and Family Arts Building.

In continuation of our collaboration with Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources, visitors to Potato Creek State Park on June 21 will have the opportunity to observe and visit with regional traditional artists as they showcase their work. This event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s nature center.

Celebrating an artist’s connections to his or her natural environment, TAI will be joined by Angie Rice, a gourd artist; Viki Graber, a traditional willow basket maker; Dani Tippman, a natural plant specialist and educator; and Greg Adams, a rustic willow furniture builder.

During the events, the standard park entrance fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle will apply.

In continuation of our collaboration with Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources, visitors to Turkey Run State Park on June 14 will have the opportunity to observe and visit with regional traditional artists as they showcase their work. This event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park nature center.

Celebrating artists’ connections to their natural environment, TAI will feature John Bennett, a blacksmith; Bill Poynter, a woodcarver; Greg Bryant, a chair caner; and Glen Summer, a dough bowl maker. Catch Archie Krout & the Smartsburg Pickers at the inn for an evening concert at 7 p.m.

During this events, the standard park entrance fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle will apply.

Dani Tippman, one of the demonstrators joining TAI at Potato Creek State Park on June 21.

This month, in continuation of our collaboration with Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources, visitors to Turkey Run State Park on June 14 and Potato Creek State Park on June 21 will have the opportunity to observe and visit with regional traditional artists as they showcase their work. Both events will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the parks’ nature centers.

These events celebrate an artist’s connections to his or her natural environment. At Turkey Run, TAI will feature John Bennett, a blacksmith; Bill Poynter, a woodcarver; Greg Bryant, a chair caner; and Glen Summer, a dough bowl maker. Catch Archie Krout & the Smartsburg Pickers at the inn for an evening concert at 7 p.m. The next weekend at Potato Creek, TAI will be joined by Angie Rice, a gourd artist; Viki Graber, a traditional willow basket maker; Dani Tippman, a natural plant specialist and educator; and Greg Adams, a rustic willow furniture builder.

During both events, the standard park entrance fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle will apply.

Though relatively new to gravestone carving, Winningham draws inspiration from the work of turn-of-the-century carvers and includes willows, urns, and other motifs once common in Southern Indiana stones in his work. He letters and carves gravestones commercially, but also uses his talents to create period-appropriate markers for historically unmarked graves of children.

This free demonstration will take place on the Mathers Museum’s front porch (facing 8th Street) and is co-sponsored by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join us on May 12 at 4 p.m. for our next live webinar! DirectorJon Kay will be presenting “Memory Art and Aging: The Life-Story Objects of Indiana Seniors,” which addresses the importance of life review and art making to the successful aging process of seniors. This will be presented in preparation for a talk Jon is giving on the same topic the following day as a part of Bloomington’s 4th Annual Creative Aging Festival. Drawing from years of working with senior folk artists, Jon will share his observations about how and why seniors make and use three distinct aspects of art making: to reflect upon their lives, record their memories, and to share their stories with others.

This webinar will be hosted on Google+ — RSVP or bookmark the event page to join us live on Thursday. For those interested in attending who do not have a Google account or are uncomfortable with Google+, the webinar will also be viewable via live streaming on YouTube.

Limestone carver Matt Bruce engages a festival goer at a demonstration last year.

Tune in tomorrow, April 29, at 4 p.m. for our next live webinar, “Presenting Traditions: Engaging Festival Goers.” Director Jon Kay will be joined by Brent Björkman, director of the Kentucky Folklife Program at Western Kentucky University, who will discuss models for public programs, including talk stages, workshops, and demonstrations.

This will be hosted on Google+ — RSVP or bookmark the event page now to join us live. For those interested in attending who do not have a Google account or are uncomfortable with Google+, the webinar will also be viewable via live streaming on YouTube.

Other upcoming webinars will cover a range of useful topics, such as the role of folk arts in successful aging of senior citizens, creating DIY (do it yourself) exhibit spaces, presenting local traditions in your own community, and more. Check back on our website or on our Facebook page for more information.

Join us for a re-do of last month’s webinar, “What are the Traditional Arts and Why Should I Care?”, this Thursday, April 24, at 3 p.m. Hosted by Director Jon Kay, this webinar aims to introduce individuals and community groups to the concepts and importance of traditional arts. Often overlooked and under-appreciated within their communities, folk arts are central to nurturing a strong sense of place and belonging.

This webinar will be hosted on Google+ — RSVP or bookmark the event page to join us live on Thursday. For those interested in attending who do not have a Google account or are uncomfortable with Google+, the webinar will also be viewable via live streaming on YouTube.

Marian Sykes, who didn’t begin hooking rugs until she was 80, displays one of her creations.

From colorful walking sticks and quilts to paintings and hooked rugs, seniors make art to reflect upon their lives, record their memories, and share their stories with others. Join TAI Director Jon Kay on May 13 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Bloomington City Hall Council Chambers for “Memory Art and Aging: The Life-Story Objects of Indiana Seniors,” a talk addressing the importance of life review and art making to the successful aging process of seniors. Drawing from years of working with senior folk artists, Jon will share his observations about how and why seniors make and use art, as well as what we can learn from them.

Join us this Thursday, March 13, at 4 p.m. for the first webinar of our 2014 season, “What Are the Traditional Arts and Why Should I Care?” Our webinars feature a series of discussions with professionals about public folklore, traditional arts, and relevant programming.

Our first webinar, hosted by Director Jon Kay, aims to introduce individuals and community groups to the concepts and importance of traditional arts. Often overlooked and under-appreciated within their communities, folk arts are central to nurturing a strong sense of place and belonging.

This will be our first webinar hosted on Google+ — RSVP or bookmark the event page now or click here to join us live on Thursday. For those interested in attending who do not have a Google account or are uncomfortable with Google+, the webinar will also be viewable via live streaming on YouTube.

Other upcoming webinars will cover a range of useful topics, such as the role of folk arts in successful aging of senior citizens, creating DIY (do it yourself) exhibit spaces, presenting local traditions in your own community, and more. Check back on our website or on our Facebook page for more information.